Lake Lorraine Dam dam
Lake Lorraine Dam
Lake Lorraine Dam, located in Jefferson, Missouri, is a private-owned structure completed in 1957 for recreational purposes. With a height of 46 feet and a length of 1100 feet, the dam stands as a significant landmark along a tributary of Sandy Creek. The dam has a storage capacity of 576 acre-feet and a surface area of 54 acres, providing ample water resources for recreational activities in the area.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment in 2007, Lake Lorraine Dam is classified with a high hazard potential, emphasizing the importance of regular inspections and maintenance. The dam is regulated by the DAM AND RESERVOIR SAFETY PROG in Missouri, ensuring state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. With a moderate risk assessment, the dam presents a manageable level of risk, but measures must be taken to mitigate any potential dangers and ensure the safety of the surrounding community.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lake Lorraine Dam serves as a valuable asset for recreation and water storage in the region. Its earth dam structure with stone core and rock foundation showcases engineering ingenuity from its construction in 1957. As a significant feature along the Kansas City District, the dam provides not only leisure opportunities but also highlights the importance of proper dam management and safety protocols in ensuring sustainable water resource utilization amidst changing climate conditions.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Lake Lorraine Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big River At Byrnesville | 467 cfs | → |
| Meramec River Near Eureka | 1,820 cfs | → |
| Big River Near Richwoods | 363 cfs | → |
| Fenton Creek Near Fenton | 1 cfs | → |
| Mattese Creek Near Mattese | 4 cfs | → |
| Yarnell Creek At Fenton | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Lorraine Dam.
Boat launches
- Ellis Grove Parkway Jefferson County
- Williamson Road Oakville
- Lemay Ferry Road Oakville
- Allen Road 204, Fenton
- Allen Road Fenton
- Grand Glaize Pkwy 1084, Valley Park
Campgrounds
- Robertsville State Park
- Washington State Park
- St. Francois State Park
- Babler Memorial State Park
- Klondike County Park
Paddle runs
Track Lake Lorraine Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Lake Lorraine Dam
Where does the data for Lake Lorraine Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Lake Lorraine Dam.